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Minerals Report - International Seabed Authority

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Regarding the potential of the activities undertaken by SOPAC, Mr.<br />

Simpson said that member countries are sold on the regional effort because<br />

they have no choice. He said that until some of the member countries<br />

developed the required national capacities, this would be the situation. He<br />

said that SOPAC was also looking at new areas of assistance to member states.<br />

He said that one area was with regard to article 76 of the United Nations<br />

Convention of the Law of the Sea, and that another was in relation to<br />

delimitation. With regard to delimitation, Mr. Simpson said that SOPAC was<br />

taking over the functions of the Forum Fisheries Agency in this respect.<br />

He noted that a very important subject matter for the region is<br />

physical oceanography. He pointed out that it is necessary for the region to<br />

obtain a better knowledge base in order to know the possible impacts of<br />

mining and other activities on the water column. He noted that while other<br />

parts of the marine ecosystem in the region are being studied, very little data<br />

and information are available on this part of it. He informed participants that<br />

together with the IOC, SOPAC is trying to establish a Pacific coast global<br />

ocean observation system, and a workshop to develop pilot studies to obtain<br />

some of the necessary data and information.<br />

In conclusion, Mr. Simpson said that the acquisition of data is the key<br />

thing for progress in the work of SOPAC. He said that SOPAC would<br />

continue in its efforts to acquire data and information on marine mineral<br />

resources, and to promote marine scientific research as the basis for the<br />

understanding of these resources. He said that it is hoped that this process<br />

would lead to further discoveries, which represents the future of a large<br />

number SOPAC’s member states. He also said that in the near term, offshore<br />

mineral policy would be a key in the region, particularly policy that results in<br />

a revision of legislation and that encourages marine mineral exploration and<br />

eventual development. He said that for those that do not have the required<br />

national capacity, the regional approach is the way to go forward.<br />

SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSIONS<br />

INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY 917

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